Month: February 2010

Here’s the view from the MVP Sports Bar near the State Capitol in Sacramento, where I’m sitting eating breakfast while my wife attends an Urban Greening Project grant workshop all morning. This is not the rustic world I’ve become used to in the last few years. I’m reeling from a bit of culture shock,…

In his review of the forthcoming book, “Merchants of Doubt,” by historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, Jeffrey Sachs reports that “today’s campaigners against action on climate change are in many cases backed by the same lobbies, individuals, and organisations that sided with the tobacco industry to discredit the science linking smoking and lung…

Published by Yes! Magazine on February 19, 2010 The public bank concept is gaining ground on the state level, attracting proponents across the political spectrum. by Ellen Brown While bank bailouts fatten Wall Street, states continue to battle the credit crisis. In the search for innovative solutions, some political candidates are proposing that states…

We attended our first Empty Bowl benefit for Hospitality House yesterday evening, and it was a great success. I’m not used to counting crowds but there must have been at least 300 people at the 5:30 PM seating, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the 7 PM seating did as well. Scores of volunteers…

Published by Yes! Magazine on February 18, 2010 Local businesses are educating communities, changing economic policies, and even outperforming chain competitors. by Jeff Milchen The 2009 holiday season was a tough one for retail businesses. In November, their sales increased just 1.8 percent over low 2008 numbers — failing to keep pace with inflation. December…